Ratha Yatra is a spiritual festival that serves as a step towards reviving Krishna consciousness in the hearts of people.

Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, the grand chariot festival of Lord Jagannatha, is one of the most celebrated and spiritually significant events. Ratha Yatra was introduced to the West by His Divine Grace Vishwa Guru A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In due course, this festival was organised in many major cities across the world.

Today, Ratha Yatra has become a global phenomenon with a profound spiritual purpose: to revive humanity’s dormant Krishna consciousness in a joyful and accessible way.

The Significance of the Name ‘Jagannatha’

The name ‘Jagannatha’ is a combination of two Sanskrit words: jagat, meaning “the moving world”, and natha, meaning “master” or “proprietor”.

Everything in this world is in motion – planets, living beings, and even inanimate objects, which move under the control of animate beings. Thus, Jagannatha is the Supreme Lord, the master of all that moves in the universe – both animate and inanimate.

The Divine Trio: Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra

Alongside Lord Jagannatha are His elder brother Balarama (Baladeva) and sister Subhadra. ‘Bala’ means spiritual strength and ‘rama’ means enjoyment. Balarama thus represents the spiritual strength that enables us to advance on the path of Krishna consciousness and attain eternal bliss.

Subhadra embodies auspiciousness and well-being. The divine trio appear together during Ratha Yatra to reclaim the conditioned souls from the miseries of material existence and offer them the opportunity to reconnect with the Supreme Lord.

The Body as a Chariot: The Lord Within

Amidst its splendid celebrations, Ratha Yatra symbolises the internal journey of the soul.

Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad-gita (15.7):

mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke
jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ

“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts.”

Every soul is an eternal part and parcel of the Lord, and every soul has an eternal loving relationship with Him. The purpose of our spiritual journey is to revive this forgotten relationship through devotional practice.

The Supreme Lord, as the Supersoul (Paramatma), is seated within each of our bodies, which is likened to a chariot (ratha).

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (15.15):

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo
mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca

“I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”

The Lord guides each living being from within, helping one either to forget or to realise Him—according to one’s desire. If we wish to forget the Lord, He facilitates that forgetfulness. But if we sincerely seek to re-establish our relationship with Him, He helps us from within at every step.

A Festival of Collective Spiritual Awakening

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Lord Krishna in the role of His own devotee, appeared over 500 years ago to inaugurate and propagate Harinama Sankirtana (the congregational chanting of the Lord’s holy names—the Hare Krishna Mahamantra). He taught that this is the easiest, yet most effective method of spiritual advancement in the present age.

Lord Chaitanya would ecstatically participate in the Ratha Yatra in Puri each year, exhibiting the highest form of divine love for Lord Jagannatha. We can develop our Krishna consciousness simply by chanting, dancing, and taking prasadam and Ratha Yatra provides a perfect opportunity for lakhs of people to engage joyfully in these activities and receive the mercy of Lord Jagannatha.

Cultivating Constant Remembrance of the Lord

The fundamental principle of devotional service is to train ourselves to always remember Krishna.

As stated in the Padma Purana:

smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇur
vismartavyo na jātucit

“Lord Vishnu (Krishna) should always be remembered and never forgotten at any time.”

Participation in festivals like Ratha Yatra nurtures the habit of remembrance of the Lord. Even if one participates just for a day in the festival—through chanting, seeing the Lord, or taking His prasadam—such contact with Krishna consciousness leaves a lasting impression.

Ratha Yatra is therefore both a vibrant celebration and a spiritual offering—a chance to serve the Lord, purify the heart, and make lasting progress on the path back to Godhead.

Ratha Yatra celebrations at ISKCON Bangalore Temples

For the first time, ISKCON Hare Krishna Dham, Whitefield will organise Sri Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Parade and Carnival on 27 June 2025, from 4 PM onwards.

The procession will begin at Prestige Technostar (Doddanakundi Industrial Area 2, Phase 1, Brookefield, Bengaluru), pass through Brigade Lakefront and SAP Office, and conclude at KTPO Grounds.

At ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, Vasanthapura, Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra will ride majestically on three beautifully decorated chariots as thousands of devotees joyfully pull the chariots amidst vibrant Harinama Sankirtana and ecstatic dancing in glorification of the Lord. Sumptuous prasadam will be served to all devotees along the Ratha Yatra route around the temple complex.

Join us in the grand festivities and receive the divine blessings of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra.

Related Articles: The Festival of Chariots | Understanding the Ratha Yatra | Ratha Yatra at ISKCON Bangalore  | Puri Ratha Yatra